North Kew, now divided between Kew and Kew East, bordered the Yarra River. As such, it was a region subject to flooding in the Yarra Valley. Development beyond this point (ie Kellett Grove) was limited by the City of Kew's planning regulations. Prior to urban development, the area since European settlement and the first land sales in the district in the 1840s, had been used for dairy farming. .Small sepia snapshot of what was then River Avenue, North Kew submerged by floodwaters.The photo was taken in the vicinity of 8 Kellett Grove, North Kew. Verso: TAKEN FROM OUR STREET JUST SEE A BIT OF RYAN'S FENCE / 1934yarra river -- north kew, floods -- yarra valley, floods -- north kew, floods -- 1934, natural disasters -- kew

North Kew, now divided between Kew and Kew East, bordered the Yarra River. As such, it was a region subject to flooding in the Yarra Valley. Development beyond this point (ie Kellett Grove) was limited by the City of Kew's planning regulations. Prior to urban development, the area since European settlement and the first land sales in the district in the 1840s, had been used for dairy farming. .Small sepia snapshot of the devastation caused by the 1934 flood.The photo was taken in the vicinity of Kellett Grove, North Kew and includes the roof of Chipperfield's Boathouse as well as other local houses.Verso: THIS IS CHIPPERFIELD'S BOAT SHEDS & COES & WILLIAMS TAKEN FROM OUR STREET / 1934yarra river -- north kew, floods -- yarra valley, floods -- north kew, floods -- 1934, natural disasters -- kew, chipperfields boathouse

The Zig-Zag Bridge which was constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend Asylum and Kew Asylum. Initially it transported bluestone from the west side of the Yarra to the east during the construction of the Kew Asylum.Real photo postcard of the Zig-Zag Bridge at Kew. In the middle ground there is a rowboat.Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boathouse Kew". Reverse: "Gift from L Bennett"bridges -- river yarra, bridges - kew (vic.), zig-zag bridge

Sepia postcard of the Zig-zaf Bridge joining Yarra Bend and Studley Park. In the foreground is a rowboat in which a man is standing, behind whom are two women in hats and a young child. The man appears to be pushing the boat away from the Bank. In the distance is the wooden Zig-Zag Bridge, constructed in the 1870s to link the Yarra Bend and Kew Lunatic Asylums. [Destroyed by flood, 1929.]Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boathouse Kew". Reverse: "Zig Zag Bridge / Gift from L Bennett 1980 / Bridge between Old Asylum & new Mental Hosp. / Kew side"zig-zag bridge -- kew (vic.), bridges -- river yarra, bridges -- kew (vic.)

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 6 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. This is a photograph of the Yarra River at Kew."Yarra Rvr / Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 3 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. A photograph of a stretch of the Yarra River at Kew. In the distance rises J Lewis Carnegie's mansion 'Carnsworth' in Stawell Street."Yarra Rvr / Kew / 1925"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, carnsworth

The Kew Historical Society's postcard collection includes views of Kew, Melbourne and Greater Melbourne as well as those including overseas scenes sent or received from Europe or the Middle East. They date from the 1890s to the 2000s. These postcards may or may not include the name of the publisher or printer. A number of the cards were published as parts of popular series. A way of dating early postcards is to identify whether the reverse was divided by a central line which became the norm after 1902 in the United Kingdom. However, other postcards produced after this date do not always conform to this print layout.Monochrome postcard showing two men in a rowboat on the River Yarra at Kew in the area of Macaulay's Boat Shed.Handwritten later annotations: "Reg No KH-384. Yarra towards Fairfield. Macaulay's Boat House, Kew"postcards - kew (vic), river yarra - kew (vic), sport and recreation - kew (vic), recreation - kew (vic), boat sheds - kew (vic)

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 6 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. This is a photograph of Orlando Henry Beater Christian (c.1853-1930) in his row boat on the Yarra River at Kew. Orlando Christian was a founder of the Willsmere Swimming Club and the father of the photographer. "Yarra Rvr / Kew"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, orlando henry beater christian

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 3 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The photograph is of a stretch of the Yarra River at Kew near Macauley's Boat Sheds. Of interest is the debris in the river which reminds us that the river periodically flooded, washing down trees and branches from further upriver. "Yarra Rvr / Kew / 1925"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 3 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. A photograph of a stretch of the Yarra River at Kew. From the 1840s, at the Crown Land Sales, lots adjacent to the river were sold and developed as dairy farms, hence the presence of cattle until the land was subdivided or created into golf courses during the twentieth century. "Yarra Rvr / Kew / 1925"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, dairying -- kew (vic.)

The Pipe Bridge was constructed to bring fresh water from Fairfield to Kew. This bridge was destroyed in the 1934 Flood and later reconstructed.Early sepia real photo postcard of the first Pipe Bridge bringing water from the Yan Yean Reservoir to Kew. The site is upriver of the original Macauley's boathouse. Obverse: "River Yarra near Macauleys' Boat House Kew". Reverse: "(Pipe Water Line) / Kew to Fairfield above boat house / Pipe Bridge / Received from L. Bennett 1980".bridges - kew (vic.), bridges - yarra river -- kew (vic.), pipe bridge

Henry Christian (c.1809-91), the grandfather of the photographer, was one of the first settlers in Kew. He arrived in Victoria with his wife Agnes and son Orlando in 1855 on the Gypsy Queen. He established a rope-making business in Bulleen Road by 1858 but was declared insolvent two years later. In his final years, he was celebrated as one of the oldest living settlers of the district. His son, Orlando Henry Beater Christian (c.1853-1930) became a member of the Hawthorn Band and a foundation member of the Willsmere Swimming Club. Orlando and his wife Elizabeth had four children of which Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) was the eldest.A photograph by Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) of Pakington Street, Kew. Henry Beater Christian, was a keen explorer, not just of his immediate environment but also of the Victorian wilderness. His major opus is contained in two albums in which he records, sometimes in majestic detail and on other occasions the intimate features of the natural world. His photographic travels during the 1920s, often in solitary ramblings but on other occasions with companions, recall the heroic landscape photography of an earlier era, pioneered by Nicholas Caire. In addition to their aesthetic value, the albums are historically significant records within the State of Victoria, of what is now a distant point in time, and of places that have become radically altered through human intervention.Sepia 'real photo' postcard of Orlando Henry Beater Christian, fishing in the Yarra River. There appear to be cattle in paddocks on the other side of the river. Fairfield (sic) is on the horizon."Henry Beater's photograph of his father Orlando Henry Beater Christian whilst fishing in the River Yarra, Kew"yarra river -- kew (vic.), orlando beater christian, christian-washfold collection

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 3 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. A photograph of an introduced exotic tree in flower, probably near Macauley's Boat Sheds."Yarra Rvr / Kew / 1925"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 3 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. This photograph is of a stretch of the Yarra near Macauley's Boat Sheds. In the distance, elevated above the river are the towers of the Kew Asylum. Henry B Christian developed his own photographs and often selected those he considered artistically fine for visual modification, such in this instance, where he used an oval framing technique in the development process. The style was commonplace in postcards. "Yarra Rvr / Kew / 1925"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, kew asylum

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 8 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The Zig-Zag Bridge linked the grounds of the Yarra Bend and Kew Asylums. The wooden bridge was constructed in the 1870s and lasted through numerous floods until its destruction in 1929. A horizontal structure, the walkway was reached via a wooden staircase on the Kew side. The steps were required due to the different levels of the banks on this stretch of the river. "Zig-Zag Bridge"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew (vic.) — yarra river, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, zig-zag bridge

Henry Christian (c.1809-91), the grandfather of the photographer, was one of the first settlers in Kew. He arrived in Victoria with his wife Agnes and son Orlando in 1855 on the Gypsy Queen. He established a rope-making business in Bulleen Road by 1858 but was declared insolvent two years later. In his final years, he was celebrated as one of the oldest living settlers of the district. His son, Orlando Henry Beater Christian (c.1853-1930) became a member of the Hawthorn Band and a foundation member of the Willsmere Swimming Club. Orlando and his wife Elizabeth had four children of which Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) was the eldest.Small black and white photograph of the Yarra River at Studley Park. In the middle ground, a man is paddling a canoe upstream. On the horizon, the tower and buildings of Raheen in Studley Park Road can be seen.henry christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, kew canoe club history — — photographs, yarra river -- studley park -- kew (vic.), christian-washfold collection

The party of the British surveyor Charles Grimes were the first Europeans to view the River Yarra, as it was later to be named. Members of the party reached the area now known as Studley Park in 1803. This local re-enactment commemorated 175 years since that event.Charles Grimes, Re-enactment, Yarra River, Kew, 1978. Inscription on reverse: "KH-191. Grimes' party in boat on Yarra 1978. Re-enactment organised by Kew Historical Society. Actors Trinity Grammar boys. Mrs Argyle's History class." Sticker on back: "771. Standard News. WHS. Festival. 4 cols. May 3. [Page] 5."charles grimes re-enactment, yarra river (kew) 1978, cr whiting (mayor of kew), andrew allen, trinity grammar school, kew historical society

This is a colour postcard of the River Yarra at Studley Park, circa 1905. The postcard, which has handwritten notes on the reverse. It was printed in Prussia as part of the Victoria Stamp Market (VSM) Series. Coloured postcard of the Yarra River looking north from Galatea Point, near the Johnson Street Bridge.Donated by Miss B. Challen. ?Taken from bend above Galatea Point, looking north. Identified by Darcy Dugan, Yarra Bend Parks.river yarra, victoria stamp market (vsm) series, postcards

This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand.The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.Back and white photograph of the Yarra River at Kew. In the distance the towers of the Kew Asylum are visible."View of Yarra from Cliffs, Studley Park" / "Studley Park" / "Jim's" / "58"yarra river -- kew (vic), landscape photography

Flooding of the Yarra Valley, including that section of the Yarra bordering Kew and Kew East in the north and west of the municipality, was a regular occurrence. Extreme flood events of the Yarra River are recorded to have occurred in 1891, 1901, 1916, 1923 and 1934. The Municipality of Kew's response to these floods was to enact planning decisions restricting residential development in flood prone areas following the floods of 1916, 1921 and 1934. While floods continued after the development of the Upper Yarra Reservoir (construction 1948-57), the regularity and extent of these inundations diminished. During the nineteenth century, the land abutting the south side of the Yarra in Kew was devoted to dairy farming. In the twentieth century, before and after the construction of the Eastern Freeway, much of this low-lying area was used as golf courses and public parks.One of a collection of photographs of flooding in the Kew section of the Yarra Valley which are in important research resource for the location and extent of flooding in the first half of the twentieth century. Flooding of the Yarra Valley at East Kew in 1916. The view is taken from a street (maybe Birdwood Avenue) intersecting with Kilby Road looking northeast across the flood waters to Ivanhoe and Heidelberg. The extensive flooded area shown in the photograph would have included remnant dairy farms and the Kew Golf Club. Verso: "Floods / Yarra River / East Kew / Kilby Road / 1917? / 87"yarra river, yarra valley, floods -- kew, kilby road -- kew (vic.), kew golf club

This photograph forms part of the Eric Sibly collection of images and information relating to the Outer Circle Railway which he donated to the Kew Historical Society in 1974. Heritage Victoria Citation (Abridged) "The Chandler Highway Bridge, a 137 metre wrought iron lattice-truss girder bridge with four spans supported on red brick piers with moulded bluestone cappings. The bridge has a cantilevered walkway along the west side. ...The Chandler Highway Bridge crosses the Yarra River and connects Alphington and Kew. It was completed in November 1890 as part of the Outer Circle Railway Line.Black & white photograph of the railway viaduct over Yarra River looking south towards Kew.Reverse: "Pre 1930. Outer Circle Railway Bridge over River Yarra (now Chandler Highway) - note bridge over line on Kew side for Asylum Farm". KH - 56. Kew Historical Society.chandler highway, railway bridges - kew (vic), sir john monash, outer circle railway, river yarra - kew (vic)

Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour-mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dight’s Falls after the owners of the mill. Later, a pumping station was built on the Kew side of the river, which pumped water uphill to a reservoir in Walmer Street that provided water to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and to Albert Park Lake. The area around Dight’s Falls was and is frequently used for recreational activities.Rare original print photograph of people walking across Dight's Falls when the river flow was low. View west towards Abbotsford. Photograph taken from Kew side of river above the Falls.Reverse: "M Holmes"dight's falls, river yarra -- kew - abbotsford

Monochrome postcard titled lower right: “RIVER YARRA AT STUDLEY PARK, MELBOURNE”. The postcard was produced by ROBERT JOLLEY, MELB, (active 1900-1904). The photo is positioned to the left of the card and framed by an art nouveau design. A handwritten annotation on the front reads “BUT WITH THE MORNING / COOL REFLECTION CAME / BLANCHE STEPHENS”. On the reverse, there is a handwritten address in black ink to: MISS L STEPHENS / 26 WEST TERRACE / ADELAIDE. There is no division on the reverse of the postcard, dating it to before 1905. It lacks a postage stamp and postmark. Monochrome postcard of the River Yarra in Studley Park. The view is of the Yarra and its banks, with Kew on the left and Abbotsford on the right, as it appeared in the years 1900-1904. On the Abbotsford side of the river, there are a number of weeping willows lining the banks and houses on the hillside. The Studley Park side of the river includes some remnant vegetation and meandering walking tracks. Three very small figures are sitting on the Kew side. "RIVER YARRA AT STUDLEY PARK, MELBOURNE"river yarra -- kew (vic.), postcards -- kew, postcards -- studley park, robert jolley

The Kew Historical Society's Pictures Collection is comprised of photographs, postcards and original works of art. The postcards include original (mainly) images dating from the 1900s to the present. A number of postcards, some of which have numerous variants, were published as parts of series. Others are original images customised as postcards. Many of the postcards in the collection depict places within the suburbs of Kew and Kew East. Others depict locations in Victoria or internationally.View of two women and two children in a canoe at Macauleys' Boat Shed at the end of Molesworth Street, Kew. At the left of the image stands a man and his dog, presumably the manager of the boat shed. On the bak of the seat of one of the canoes is its name - sunbeam. Another item in the collection includes one of these name boards."Lower Molesworth Street, 1900. Home restored still standing 1980."postcards, recreation - yarra river - kew (vic), yarra river - kew (vic), macauley's boat house -- boat shed

Ron Setford and his wife Grace Setford lived in Tanner Avenue, East Kew, from c.1946 to c.1995. A keen photographer, he recorded the changing face of Kew over a 20 year period. Apart from 30 photographs of built structures and places in Kew dating from 1960 and 1961, 145 of his 35mm colour slides chronicle the development of the F19 (later renamed Eastern) Freeway through the Yarra Valley in Kew over a five year period from c.1972 to c.1977. This important collection was donated to the Society by his granddaughter in 2025.This collection of 175 35mm slides is of local and statewide significance, owing to its subject matter, particularly the major development of road transport infrastructure during the 1970s with the construction of the Eastern Freeway. The photographer also took care to annotate and date most of his slides which enable the researcher to pinpoint temporal and spatial locations.Photograph of works involved in construction of the F19 (now Eastern) Freeway involving rerouting the River Yarra in Kew."Eastern Freeway / pumping out old river bed"ron setford, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

Macauley's boat sheds (aka Kew Boatsheds) was located on the river at the western end of Molesworth Street, Kew.Black and white enlargement. Two children pictured in a canoe at Macauley's Boathouse on the River Yarra at Studley Park.Reverse: "Macauley's Boatsheds / M Holmes"boathouses -- river yarra, boathouses -- kew, macauley's boat shed, recreation -- canoeing

Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour-mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dight’s Falls after the owners of the mill. Later, a pumping station was built on the Kew side of the river, which pumped water uphill to a reservoir in Walmer Street that provided water to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens and to Albert Park Lake. The area around Dight’s Falls was and is frequently used for recreational activities.Original, black and white positive of water flowing over the 'Race' at Dight's Falls in MelbourneInscribed verso: "The Race at Dight's Falls / River Yarra Melbourne / 1.3.25" "Kodak Print"dight's falls, river yarra, yarra -- kew (vic.)

In 1928 a footbridge was erected to link Kew with the public golf course across the Yarra. The total cost of construction came to 250 pounds and the bridge became known as Kane's Bridge. During the 1934 floods the bridge was washed downstream, and was subsequently rebuilt. The present form of the bridge resembles the earlier bridge which crossed from the Yarra Bend Asylum to Kew, further upstream. (VHD)Original, black and white positive of Kane's Bridge in December 1934, when the 'great flood' of the Yarra caused the bridge's destruction. Inscribed verso: "Kane's Bridge Yarra in flood Dec 1934"river yarra, yarra -- kew (vic.), kanes bridge, 1934 floods